The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-16

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ropsrsAsss. isl
People in general have an idea that
Turkish women absolutely do nothing
that b either useful or ornamental aside
from the decoration Of their own
persons, but that is not altogether true,
~ my residence Of over year In their
country taught me, for they are really
dextrous with the needle and do work
which 10 q nne ~ that done by the sis
ters in the converts, or that Of the wives
Of the feudal noblemen Of olden times.
The favorite pastime Of the Turkish
women 10 the bath, which brings TO-
gether the wives and slaves Of al the
well-to-do Turks, and II 10 like . picnic
of school children. These wives, most
OF them very young-some, indeed, not
over twelve and fourteen years old-taks
their lunch along and they eat and steam,
plunge and splash and play pranks upon
each other In the widest glee the whole
day long. No fear Of On angry husband
hsunts their minds, for they are not ex-
pected TO do anything and their hus-
bands very rarely enter the harems be-
fore six o'clock. BY that time they are
all back, rosy and sweet from their bath.
At the baths here IL often an old
woman who has the faculty Of relating
stories, and she is eagerly listened to by
these grown-up children and the stories
are generally Of the Arabian Nights
order, full Of genii, beautiful ladies, and
charming youths, and jealous husbands.
Many . lesson 10 given % to how to out
wit the most jealous Of men through
these stories-a lesson they are neither
slow to learn or practice. The way they
are watched and confined always made me
think Of the woman who cautioned her in
nocent children not to put blue beans in
their noses while she was out. The magic
lantern entertainments smuse these
ignorant Gagged birds. Dancing girls,
singing and playing the lutte, playing
with the babies and occasionally quarrel
ing with each other take up some of their
time; a weekly tour Of the bazars and
once in q while visit to the harem Of
some other Turk still leave much time
on their hands that the rare calls of their
husbands, the eating Of sweetmeats or
smoking of cigarettes cannot fill, and so
they give their poor little minds to
fancy work. They very seldom learn
how to read or perhaps books would
help them through, and they never mako
their own clothes. though they do some
times decorate them elaborately after
other have made them.
They have frames made on which their
embroidery Is worked, and on velvet,
satin, or that beautiful and durable
Broussa gauze they embroider with ex-
quisite fineness and taste. The most Of
their embroidery ID done in durable and
admirably arranged colors, In subdued
tones, which seems to me remarkable in
women who are 80 fond Of brilliant pri-
mary colors and ill-assorted contrast.
They have no patterns, but work ont
graceful and beautiful fantasies, and all
done with the most extreme care and
hneness, requiring patience and extra
good eyesight
They work In gold and silver threads
too great extent and they make cushions
for their divans which are stiff with the
finest of gold and silver needlework.
Their jackets are worked so thickly
oyer with gold and silver arsbesques and
other patterns that they are almost a
stiff as our corsets. Their slippers are
ornamented a. we'll with gold and silver
embroidery over velvet or satin, and seed
pearls and fine coral and turquoise beads
are lavishly used with beautiful effect.
They also work gold borders to their
bathing wraps. This d done in outline
work in chain-stitch. The little Broussa
neckties are worked in the Same manner,
only that the 1ourah or national cost-of-
arms 10 always placed at the end with q
verse from the Koran worked in gold
thread at the bottom.
They make very beautiful and dura-
BILE lace out Of silk thread which resem.
bles no other lace ! ever saw. The mesh
ID thick, but not heavy, and different
flowers are frequently made in relief
upon 1t. l have seen piece of this lace
three yards In length and quarter Of .
yard deep. On It ran . rose branch,
every leaf, bud and flower being made
separate and laid in relief upon It, Joined
firmly and yet loose. The roses were
perfect fac-similes Of roses with, per-
haps, hundred petals. Another woman
had made In this lace work little gar
den about fifteen inches square. There
were the trees, about three inches high,
flowers Of different kinds and two OF
three birds, al made Of this lace and set
In relief, tiny wires being run through
the stems Of the howers and trunks Of
the trees to keep them upright.
The soft and durable Grape undershirts,
0r ne,,ah0e1ra n thAv ara called ali h.va